Tag: us mobile gaming

Mobile games may soon dominate the game industry

| March 19, 2013

Mobile games versus consolesMobile games picking up the slack of conventional consoles

The game industry in the U.S. is facing a slump, according to a study from the NPD Group. According to the market research and analysis firm, the trend of declining hardware, software, and accessories sales in the U.S. persists, sending ripples throughout the game industry. The study suggests that consumers are beginning to move away from conventional gaming systems, such as consoles, and have been more inclined to participate in mobile games. Much of the money that seems to be exiting the game industry, on the consumer level, seems to making its way to these mobile games rather than traditional gaming media.

Console and software sales are down in the US

NPD Group notes that total sales of hardware, software, and accessories in the U.S. game market were $810 million in February of this year. This is a decline from the $1.09 billion that the game industry had seen in the U.S. market only a year previous. Hardware sales, in particular, have dropped 36% over the past 12 months, despite the launch of new gaming systems, such as the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation Vita. Where consumers are no longer purchasing physical products, they are spending money on mobile games.

Mobile games and digital distribution eclipse hardware sales

Mobile games have come to account for a significant portion of the revenue being generated within the game industry. According to the NPD Group, mobile games, as well as digital distribution platforms and subscription services, now account for $1.2 billion in sales within the game industry. Several large publishers, like Electronic Arts, have seen significant success through digital distribution, as is the case with Dead Space 3. Mobile games, in particular, continue to generate a great deal of revenue for their developers and the publishers of these games.

Game industry begins to take mobile more seriously

Mobile games are expected to continue playing a large role in the U.S. game industry. They may one day come to dominate the industry as consumers continue to favor digital distribution and mobile gaming applications over conventional consoles and physical products. Many companies within the game industry have taken note of this trend and have been focusing much of their efforts on supporting mobile games so as to solidify their continued presence in their given market.

DeNA joins Entertainment Software Association

| January 27, 2013

DeNA joins ESAESA welcomes latest member DeNA

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a U.S. game industry trade group, has announced that DeNA, a developer of social mobile games, has joined its ranks. With the inclusion of DeNA, the ESA now boasts of 36 companies from throughout the U.S., as well as several other countries, all representing the various aspects of the game industry. DeNA will bring its expertise in social mobile gaming into the mix, which is expected to be a major benefit to the trade group because of the increasing focus the industry has begun to place on the mobile space.

Social mobile games growing in popularity

Social mobile games are extremely popular. Companies like Zynga and Storm8 have pioneered this field of gaming, showing just how willing mobile consumers are to play these games over the past few years. Mobile games themselves are widely popular, but when social elements are introduced into these games, they become much more enjoyable for some consumers. As such, social mobile gaming has begun to gain the full support of the game industry, with interest even coming from developers that have traditionally been solely involved in console gaming.

DeNA finding success around the world

DeNA is based in Japan but recently established a strong presence in California through its acquisition of San Francisco-based Ngmoco last year. This acquisition provided DeNA with a significant amount of attention throughout the global game industry and positioned the developer to enter into partnerships in China, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, and elsewhere. DeNA has established a very extensive network of connections, making its social mobile games widespread and common in several of the world’s most popular gaming markets.

Developer poised to compete with GREE more aggressively

The developer’s primary rival in the social mobile gaming space is GREE, a Japanese social networking and Internet media company with a heavy hand in the game industry. GREE is responsible for many of the most popular mobile games in Japan and the rest of the Asian market and is one of the reasons DeNA has had to expand into other markets to find success. Backed by the ESA, DeNA expects to find the clout it needs to compete with GREE more effectively.